Hardware Podcasts

Derek Recker | R&D Engineering Series – Interview 4 of 6

Being an Engineer · 14 Jul 2023 · 32m · Episode 26

What this episode covers

Derek Recker, a mechanical engineer at The Hawthorne Gardening Company (a subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro), discusses the nuances of R&D engineering, emphasizing that defining the problem is 90% of the role. He contrasts technology-push versus market-pull development strategies and highlights the importance of cross-functional communication, particularly using PowerPoint graphics to bridge gaps with non-engineers. Recker also shares specific examples of cost-saving initiatives, such as insourcing a supplier part to achieve $4 million in savings and an 8x reduction in returns.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
The Hawthorne Gardening Company, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Pipeline Design & Engineering
Tools
SolidWorks, PowerPoint, Excel, MATLAB

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